About half of the $4.5 billion cost is financed by a cut in food stamps starting in several years.

In your best Jon Stewart voice: Wha-wha-what?!? So we’re making sure students eat better in school by ensuring that they eat worse at home?

…Mr. Obama tamped down concern by telling Democrats he would work with them to find other ways to pay for the bill, before the cuts in food stamps take effect.

OK, that’s cool…if he’s still in office.

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Composting is a fabulous way to handle the food waste that can’t be avoided, but I’m not sure I’d brag about having this much to compost:

The Whole Foods Store in Alpharetta, Georgia, disposes of over one thousand pounds of cuttings and food waste every day.

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Food waste is on the radar in Canada. Well, at least Canada.com tackled the topic.

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And speaking of Canada, I thought my interview on the CBC’s Q (on Dec. 1) was among the best radio discussions on the topic I’ve experienced thus far. [Here's the mp3 if that's better]

On that note, there’s news from the California Senate. The Feed the Hungry Bill, a.k.a. SB 35, passed a key committee vote yesterday. That means it’s that much closer to becoming law.

That said, SB 35 should pass, because it’s a *lighter* version of last year’s bill that would have allowed catering customers to require that their leftovers were donated. After encountering stiff opposition from the food industry last session, the bill’s champion, Senator Jenny Oropeza is attempting to bring about change in a few distinct steps.

Still, it’s a step in the right direction toward increased catering donations. And I really like the idea of creating a state-wide database of food recovery groups who will collect and/or accept edible donations. We need to make that happen in every state!

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Would grocery shopping every other week reduce your food waste? Lifehacker thinks it might.

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When colleges and universities go on break, they often have to throw away large amounts of food. A student group at the University of Kansas called Daily Bread is rectifying that situation.

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It’s not easy to get estimates on the reduced water and energy use when schools go trayless (from not washing trays). This article posits that Worcester’s Holy Cross expects to save 900 gallons a day!

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East Bay homeowners who want to donate backyard fruits or vegetables can do so via Gifts From Our Gardens, a program that brings volunteers to individuals’ yards.

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Finally, maybe I should get a sock puppet to help spread the message? I have a real soft spot for England’s fictional French chef Gordon Le Rotter and his sous chef/sock puppet Pierre.

A similar bill from last session didn’t pass, largely due to restaurant industry objections. Senate Bill 35 picks up where that one left off, but Oropeza hopes to make its terms more palatable to businesses while still helping food donations go to those in need.

Last year’s bill (SB 1443) would have allowed customers to mandate food donation in their catering contracts. Not surprisingly, businesses were worried about food safety.This time, Oropeza plans to be a bit less concrete:

For 2009, she hopes to work closely with industry officials to hammer out a measure that benefits the needy while protecting businesses.

And with more compromise, Oropeza plans to win over the doubters within the legislature (1443 passed in the Senate, but not the Assembly). As her communications director Ray Sotero said:

SB 35 was written in general language with the hope that terms could be hashed out among legislators.

Come on legislators–hash it out!

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I’m sad to report that the California bill that would have made food donation easier at catered events is dead for the year. The office of State Senator Jenny Oropeza, who introduced the bill this year, informed me that it didn’t get the votes to pass the Assembly. Oropeza plans to reintroduce the bill next year.

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Back to college, one Missouri grad student did something really cool: he started a composting program.

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I’ve always wanted to read the confessions of a high school lunchlady. This particular confessions have a few waste-related thoughts toward the end.

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Given that I’m writing this from Portland right now, this is fitting: Portland International Airport already has compost bins in one food court, but hopes to dramatically expand its food waste collection.

Senate Bill 1443 would allow catering customers to decide what to do with their leftovers–donate it to those in need or take it home. It’d achieve that by requiring specific language in catering contracts. The bill has passed the Senate and could go to a vote in the General Assembly as soon as August 11.

If you don’t take my word for it, here’s an op-ed from the bill’s sponsor, Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach.

Golden State readers, perhaps you should contact your representative and tell them to support this bill to reduce food waste. We should explore all ways to reduce the 6 million tons of food annually going into Cali landfills.

Food recovery in the holy land. Hallelujah!

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Fallen Fruit is a cool site that helps L.A. residents collect fruit from residential trees. I particularly like their manifesto and maps.

Legislative Watch: California State Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, introduced Senate Bill 1443 that would enable party hosts to contractually obligate hotels and caterers to donate excess food. The bill is set for an April 29 hearing.

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New York City’s Hearst Tower aims to send 95 percent of its food waste to a compost facility. That’s an ambitious plan, but Hearst seems committed to “being green.” It’s encouraging to see more and more U.S. companies “get it.”